Big Drop In Rapes, Killings
FBI Charts 30% Falls For Both
The Jersey Journal
Tuesday, May 18, 1999
TRENTON(AP)
Jersey City experienced some of the most significant drops in crime in America last year, according to preliminary figures compiled by the FBI.
Jersey City registered a 15 percent decline in overall crime, with a 31 percent drop in murder (eight fewer homicides than in 1997) and a 32 percent drop in rape.
Newark and Jersey City even made two "top-10" lists for drops in burglary and car theft among the nation's 225 cities with populations of more than 100,000. New Jersey has four cities with more than 100,000 population: Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Elizabeth.
In Jersey City, car theft was down 30 percent, the fourth-largest drop, behind Austin, Salt Lake City and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"Our community police program has added a certain level of police presence that we have not seen in the recent past," said Jersey City Police Director Michael Mortarty. "So the combination of those officers engaged in a problem-solving strategy, along with our regular patrol force and detectives doing their jobs well, resulted in this dramatic increase," he added.
Moriarty said much of the city's crime is perpetrated by teenagers, and police programs have targeted youth with everything from teen curfews to grant funded programs that link police with schools.
"We have 900 men and women in this department, and the large majority is very dedicated to improving this city," he said.
Jersey City's police department has grown since 1994 from 828 officers to 904. Through the civilianization of certain clerical jobs, 50 officers have been freed up to patrol the streets.
Newark reported a 19 percent decline in overall crime from 1997 to 1998 in the FBI's index crimes: murder, rape, robbery, theft, auto theft and burglary. In Newark, murder increased 5 percent, with three more homicides than in 1997, but rape dropped 5 percent.
Among the nation's larger cities, Newark reported a 25 percent decrease in burglary, the ninth largest drop in the United States. Manchester, N.H., had the best drop in burglary, down 39 percent.
Elizabeth reported a 14 percent decrease in overall crime, while Paterson reported a 9 percent decline.
Final figures for all New Jersey towns are due out later in the year. In fact, the preliminary numbers behind the statistical trends reported yesterday could change slightly as final reports are confirmed.
The figures also have traditionally come under fire from some criminal justice experts, who note that not all law enforcement agencies follow the same criteria In reporting crimes.
For instance, there is a dispute over Philadelphia police statistics for violent crime, which could affect regional and national results for large cities.
Journal Staff Writer John Petrick contributed to this report.
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